Sports clothing, particularly for surfing

ABSTRACT

A suit for water-based sports, comprises: a closable compartment within the suit, the closable compartment positioned to be located on the back of a wearer when worn; and 
     an opening for a drinking pipe, the opening positioned to allow the pipe to lead from the compartment to a face of the wearer.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to sports clothing and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to clothing for surfing or windsurfing, and other sports involving water, including swimming, water-skiing, kayaking, diving and scuba diving, and to a lesser extent yachting and the like, and including the triathlon.

Surfers, water-skiers and divers often wear full or partial wetsuits. The wetsuit covers the upper body and may fully or partially cover the legs. In warmer climates a shirt alone may be worn over a standard swimsuit.

Wetsuits and shirts are made of neoprene, a kind of rubber, which may be augmented with spandex, the material sold under the trademark Lycra™. The wetsuits and shirts are not fully waterproof, but rather allow a thin layer of water to penetrate inside to form a layer over the skin, which layer is heated by body warmth and protects the sportsperson from the cold.

In sports in general it is very important to keep the body properly hydrated. Water is an important component of the muscle tissue and dehydration may inhibit performance quite significantly.

In land sports which require endurance, it is generally possible to stop at intervals to drink from water provided at the side of the course. However in water sports this is generally not possible. Furthermore, in sports which require lying prone on a surfboard, it is hard to take a water bottle, and even if a water bottle is taken with, the hands are not free to take a drink.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present embodiments relate to a shirt or suit with a compartment for a container of water. An opening may be additionally provided for a drinking pipe. The compartment may be located on the back of the shirt or suit, say in the upper back, for example between the shoulder blades, where it does not interfere with movement, and the drinking pipe may be fed through the opening towards the mouth of the user. The embodiments may include a water container, for example a flexible plastic container or water sack, for which the compartment is shaped and sized, and the suit or shirt may include an opening for the drinking pipe.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a suit for water-based sports, comprising:

a closable compartment within the suit, the closable compartment positioned to be located on the back of a wearer when worn; and

an opening for a drinking pipe, the opening positioned to allow the pipe to lead from the compartment to a face of the wearer.

In an embodiment, the closable compartment is positioned to be located between the shoulder-blades of the wearer.

Embodiments may comprise a holder for holding the drinking pipe to the suit, the holder being positioned to be located on a shoulder of the wearer.

Embodiments may comprise a drink container removably located within the closable compartment, the drink container comprising an attachment for the water pipe.

In an embodiment, the drink container is a water sack.

In an embodiment, the closable compartment is shaped and sized to fit the water sack therein while the water sack is filled with drink.

Embodiments of the suit may be constituted from neoprene and spandex, which may be provided respectively for different parts of the suit.

In an embodiment, the closable compartment is formed between two layers of fabric.

In an embodiment, the closable compartment comprises a closure, which may for example be a button closure, a tie closure, a zip, or a hook and loop fastener, or any other suitable closure.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a suit for water-based sports, comprising:

a closable compartment positioned on the suit to be located on the back of a wearer when worn;

a container for drink located within the closable compartment;

a drinking pipe leading from the container to the face of the wearer; and

an opening in the suit for threading the drinking pipe.

In embodiments, the container is at least partly inflated, thereby to provide buoyancy. The container may be inflated through the drinking pipe by the user, and may be inflated irrespective of whether the drink is present or has already been drunk.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and/or scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments of the invention, exemplary methods and/or materials are described below. In case of conflict, the patent specification, including definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and are not intended to be necessarily limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

Some embodiments of the invention are herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of embodiments of the invention. In this regard, the description taken with the drawings makes apparent to those skilled in the art how embodiments of the invention may be practiced.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic view from behind of a suit according to the present embodiments with internal structures shown in outline and also showing a water sack for use with the suit;

FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic view from the front of the suit of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a simplified schematic view from the back of the suit of FIG. 1 without showing the internal structures;

FIG. 4 is a view from the back of a suit similar to that in FIG. 1 according to embodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a view from the front of the suit of FIG. 4 .

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to sports clothing and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to clothing for surfing or windsurfing, and other sports involving water, including water-skiing, kayaking, diving and scuba diving, and to a lesser extent yachting and the like.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components and/or methods set forth in the following description and/or illustrated in the drawings and/or the Examples. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic diagram of the suit viewed from the back and showing internal structures in outline. A suit 10 for water-based sports may for example be a wetsuit, and according to the present embodiments includes a closable compartment 12 within the suit. The closable compartment is positioned to be located on the back of a wearer when worn and may specifically be located at the upper back, for example between the shoulder blades. The closable compartment may hold a bag or water sack 14 or other container that may be filled with water or any other drink, including sports drinks such as protein drinks and alkaline water. The closable compartment 12 may be shaped and sized to fit a typical one-liter water sack 14, and for example may have a typical size measured from the inside of 180 mm by 3050 mm in order to accommodate the one-liter water sack. The closure may for example be 150 mm.

An opening 16 provides for a drinking pipe 18. The opening is positioned to allow the pipe to lead from the compartment 12 to the face of the wearer so that s/he may use the pipe as a drinking straw and suck water from the water sack 14. The pipe 18 may include a mouthpiece 20.

It is noted that the opening is here shown as being horizontal across the back. However the opening may equally well be vertical so that the water sack is introduced from the side.

Closure 22 may be provided for the closable compartment and may be a zipper, or a hook-and-eye fastener of the kind sold under the trademark Velcro™ Alternatively, the closure may be a button or tie closure. The closure may be covered by a lip or covering, particularly if a hook and eye type of fastener is used. Such a lip may be dispensed with if using a zipper.

A smaller inner pocket 24 may also be provided, say for a smaller, pocket-sized water sack. The pocket may also be closed with a zip or with any other suitable closure as discussed above. A typical size for the inner compartment may be 60 mm in width by 70 mm in height.

A holder or fastener 26, may hold the drinking pipe 18 to the suit 10 beyond the point where the pipe emerges from opening 16. The holder 26 may conveniently be positioned on the shoulder of the wearer so that the pipe can be acquired by the wearer without needing hands, or hardly needing hands.

The drink container, typically a water sack, may be removably located within the closable compartment 12 so that it can easily be refilled, and the water sack may include an attachment 28 to fix the water pipe 18 through the wall of the water sack in a manner that is both waterproof and does not compromise the mechanical integrity of the wall of the sack.

The suit may be made of materials typical to wetsuits and/or to surfing, and for example the suit may be constituted from a fabric comprising neoprene and spandex. The spandex may for example be highly stretchable Lycra™. The closable compartment itself may be formed between two layers of the fabric.

Alternatively, the suit may be constructed from parts made of different fabrics. Thus the spandex, which is more stretchable and flexible may be used for areas which are highly articulated during activity, such as the area around the shoulders. The neoprene, which is stronger, may be used for other parts of the body, which do not move or do not move as much. The neoprene may be 0.5 mm neoprene, as opposed to the more common 1 mm neoprene.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2 , which illustrates same suit 10 viewed from the front. The holder 26 holds the water pipe 18 to the suit so that the front of the pipe with mouthpiece 20 is readily available to the wearer.

FIG. 3 illustrates the view from the back of the suit 10 without showing inner structures. Closure 22 may be a water repellant zipper, for example with a polyurethane coating. The closure may include puller head 30 to assist the user in opening the closure. Opening 16 for drinking pipe 18 may be a plastic eyelet.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show front and back views of the suit respectively. FIG. 4 shows the drinking pipe 18 and mouthpiece 20 emerging from opening 16.

The water sack may be used for flotation. The water may be emptied or drunk, or may still have water remaining, and the sack may then be filled with air through the drinking pipe to provide buoyancy to the suit. That is to say the water sack may be used to provide buoyancy to the suit, and this may be done even if the sack contains water. As a result the suit may be used to help if the surfer gets into difficulty.

It is expected that during the life of a patent maturing from this application many relevant rubber and stretchy material will be developed and the scopes of these and other terms herein are intended to include all such new technologies a priori.

The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes”, “including”, “having” and their conjugates mean “including but not limited to”.

The term “consisting of” means “including and limited to”.

As used herein, the singular form “a”, “an” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment and the present description is to be construed as if such embodiments are explicitly set forth herein. Conversely, various features of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination or may be suitable as a modification for any other described embodiment of the invention and the present description is to be construed as if such separate embodiments, subcombinations and modified embodiments are explicitly set forth herein. Certain features described in the context of various embodiments are not to be considered essential features of those embodiments, unless the embodiment is inoperative without those elements.

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.

It is the intent of the applicant(s) that all publications, patents and patent applications referred to in this specification are to be incorporated in their entirety by reference into the specification, as if each individual publication, patent or patent application was specifically and individually noted when referenced that it is to be incorporated herein by reference. In addition, citation or identification of any reference in this application shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art to the present invention. To the extent that section headings are used, they should not be construed as necessarily limiting. In addition, any priority document(s) of this application is/are hereby incorporated herein by reference in its/their entirety. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A suit for water-based sports, comprising: a closable compartment within the suit, the closable compartment positioned to be located on the back of a wearer when worn; and an opening for a drinking pipe, the opening positioned to allow the pipe to lead from the compartment to a face of the wearer.
 2. The suit of claim 1, wherein the closable compartment is positioned to be located between the shoulder-blades of the wearer.
 3. The suit of claim 1, further comprising a holder for holding the drinking pipe to the suit, the holder being positioned to be located on a shoulder of the wearer.
 4. The suit of claim 1, comprising a drink container removably located within the closable compartment, the drink container comprising an attachment for said water pipe.
 5. The suit of claim 4, wherein the drink container is a water sack.
 6. The suit of claim 4, wherein the closable compartment is shaped and sized to fit the water sack therein while the water sack is filled with drink.
 7. The suit of claim 1, constituted from a fabric comprising a neoprene part and a spandex part.
 8. The suit of claim 1, wherein the closable compartment is formed between two layers of fabric.
 9. The suit of claim 1, wherein the closable compartment comprises a closure, the closure being one member of the group comprising a button closure, a tie closure, a zip, and a hook and loop fastener.
 10. A suit for water-based sports, comprising: a closable compartment positioned on the suit to be located on the back of a wearer when worn; a container for drink located within the closable compartment; a drinking pipe leading from the container to the face of the wearer; and an opening in the suit for threading the drinking pipe.
 11. The suit of claim 10, wherein the closable compartment is positioned to be located between the shoulder-blades of the wearer.
 12. The suit of claim 10, further comprising a holder for holding the drinking pipe to the suit, the holder being positioned to be located on a shoulder of the wearer.
 13. The suit of claim 10, wherein the drink container is removably located within the closable compartment, the drink container comprising an attachment for said water pipe.
 14. The suit of claim 13, wherein the drink container is a water sack.
 15. The suit of claim 13, wherein the closable compartment is shaped and sized to fit the drink container while the drink container is filled with drink.
 16. The suit of claim 10, constituted from a fabric comprising a neoprene part and a spandex part.
 17. The suit of claim 10, wherein the closable compartment is formed between two layers of fabric.
 18. The suit of claim 10, wherein the closable compartment comprises a closure, the closure being one member of the group comprising a button closure, a tie closure, a zip, and a hook and loop fastener.
 19. The suit of claim 10, wherein the container is at least partly inflated, thereby to provide buoyancy. 